Newsletter dated September 1, 2015

Unitarian Universalist Church
of Brunswick
Adult Education ..................................... 12
Appraisal Fair ........................................... 9
Board Report.......................................... 13
Calendar ................................................. 15
Chalice Circles ......................................... 4
Charity with Soul ..................................... 5
Community Read ................................... 12
Concerts ..............................................8-11
Deadlines ............................................... 16
First Tuesday Concerts ......................... 11
Fundraising Events ..............................8-9
Habitat for Humanity ............................... 5
Homecoming Potluck ............................ 12
Hope Russell Party Pics........................ 14
How to Reach Us ..................................... 2
Jud Caswell CD Release Party ............. 10
Jud Crowdsourcing Fundraiser ........... 10
Larry Lemmel Concert........................... 11
Minister’s Musings .................................. 2
MUUSAN ................................................... 6
Nell Britton Concert ............................... 11
Portland GreenFest ............................... 13
Religious Education ................................ 3
Restorative Justice .................................. 7
Side Door Coffeehouse ......................... 10
Temporary Office Changes ..................... 2
Third Sunday Forum................................ 7
Vegan Sunday ....................................... 14
Volunteer Opportunities............ 2,3,5,9,12
Women’s Alliance .................................. 14
Working for Justice ................................. 7
Ysaye Barnwell Workshop .................... 12
The Unitarian Universalist
Church of Brunswick
Rev. Sylvia Stocker, Minister
Rev. J. Bradbury Mitchell,
Minister Emeritus
Nicole Shanks,
Director of Religious Education
Stephanie Bernier, Music Coordinator
Heidi Neufeld, Choir Director
TBA, Choir Accompanist
Shirley Bernier, Office Administrator
Tony Sulkoski , Sexton

Our Mission is
To be a spiritual community
To welcome all
To nurture one another
To work for justice
And to care for the earth.
SUNDAY SERVICES AT 10 A.M.
Sept 6 “Creativity, Spirituality, and the UU Experience”
Jud Caswell, worship leader, will be talking about about the connections between spiritual and creative practices, and a little bit
about what that might mean for us as Unitarian Universalists.
Music by Jud Caswell.
Sept 13 Homecoming Sunday
Rev. Stocker and Nicole Shanks collaborate on this intergenerational service to launch the new church year. Music TBA.
Sept 20 “Columbo”
Rev. Stocker preaching. Music TBA.
Sept 27 “Pause”
Rev. Stocker preaching. Music by the choir, under the direction
of Heidi Neufeld.
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September 2015
Parish Messenger
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
W
elcome back! I hope everyone had just the type of summer they were hoping for- full of relaxation and rest,
jumping from one adventure to another, or a combination of
the two. For me, summer is a time for lots of reading and I came
across something thought provoking in an essay in the book After
Preservation (a good read, by the way). Andrew Revkin paraphrases
a quote from the late liberal commentator Walter Lippman as follows: “The goal of politics is not to get everyone to think alike, but
to get people who think differently to act alike.” Seems pretty
straightforward, but I found it eye opening as my natural tendency
can be to try to make people think the way I do and to dismiss them
if they won’t. It can seem at times that there is no way to make progress, but this statement points out an important distinction between
thought and action. People with very different beliefs, thoughts, and
opinions can find ways to take common action to accomplish important goals. In RE this year our theme is community and working
toward social and environmental justice. In a world where opinions
are so divided and arguments are so heated, this quote can serve as a
reminder for a way forward in the areas of social and environmental
justice.
HOW TO REACH US
The Unitarian Universalist Church
of Brunswick
PO Box 129, Brunswick ME 04011
Office Hours at 1 Middle Str eet ar e Tues
through Friday from 10-4. The office administrator is Shirley Bernier.
I’m excited to explore social and environmental issues with our children
and youth this year. We’ll be starting that exploration on September
21st, the first day of RE classes and youth group. We have lots of fun
activities in store this year so stay tuned for announcements about
upcoming events and activities. I’m looking forward to seeing you
all soon!
nicole
IMPORTANT RE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DATES
The Minister, Rev. Sylvia Stocker wor ks
from home and her church office. Her regular office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 pm. She is also available by
appointment. To guarantee an appointment,
it's always best to call and schedule a meeting. In an emergency, do not hesitate to call
her anywhere or any time. (Consult the
church directory for her home number.) For
routine church business, please call her at
the church.
Volunteers Needed: We are still seeking volunteer s to be par t
of the teaching team for PreK-K RE class. Expect to commit to
between 7-12 Sundays during the year depending on your availability. Want more information? Please contact Nicole at [email protected]
The Director of Religious Education, Nicole Shanks, is available by appointment.
You can call her at the church office or
email her at [email protected].
TEMPORARY CHANGES IN THE CHURCH OFFICE
Monday is the Sabbath for the Minister, the
DRE, and the office.
Telephone/Fax: 207 729-8515
E-mail: uubr [email protected]
Website: http://www.uubr unswick.or g
Sept 9: PreK-Grade 6 RE Volunteer Orientation, 6:30-8pm
Sept 13: Inter gener ational Homecoming Ser vice
Sept 20: Star t of RE classes, youth gr oup gr ade 7-12
Our Church Office Administrator Shirley Bernier is out for
several weeks, recovering from hip replacement surgery. The
ongoing business of the church office is being handled by a
fleet of volunteers in the meantime (for which Sylvia says,
“thank you, thank you thank you”! Please be aware that the
church will not be open as much as usual, and hours will be
erratic until Shirley returns. If you have business to conduct at
the church, please call first to make sure the building is open.
Parish Messenger
September 2015
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MINISTER’S MUSINGS
H
ow can it be that another
summer is on the wane and
we are already planning for
our Homecoming potluck (Sept 12)
and Homecoming service (Sept 13).
Each year the summer speeds by at a
faster clip!
Still, there is something exhilarating
about this time of year. In most cases,
people think of winter as a time of
hibernation, as when bears head into
their caves for their big sleep. But,
from the church's viewpoint, summer
can seem like a hibernating time, when
people we see nearly every week
during the rest of the year disappear
to vacation spots or summer breaks.
So I get excited about homecoming,
when we gather in our summer sojourners and the hubbub of church
life increases.
At the same time, I feel fortunate to
be in a congregation that keeps going
during the summer. This past summer lay leaders provided wonderful
services at the end of June and during
the month of July. I have been back in
the pulpit since August 1. And church
activities, while a little subdued compared to the rest of the year, have
continued. We have had concerts,
Stories with Soul, and discussion
groups. Building and Grounds oversaw
the creation of new gardens behind
the church and kept them watered
during the heat wave. Church leaders
have continued meeting and making
and carrying out plans. The Caring
Committee continued to lend a hand
to parishioners in need of practical
assistance, and the Pastoral Care Associates continued to visit those who
needed a listening ear. UUCB is percolating right along.
We really have become a 12-month
church, and I love that. As one parishioner recently reflected, “It's nice to
have the church so active in the summer so that when we have summer
guests we can bring them here.”
Amen. And thank you to the many,
many people who have carried our
work forward, even in the summer
months.
Our congregation has much to look
forward to in the coming months.
The Accompanist Search Committee
is nearing the end of their search
for a pianist to step into the staff
role vacated by Nell Britton. They
should have exciting news to report to everyone soon. The End
Inequality leadership team has been
hard at work during the summer,
and the whole congregation will
have opportunities to dig into the
abundant opportunities to work on
that initiative during the coming
church year.
The Adult Religious Education
task force started off with a big
splash by planning a hugely successful book discussion on Being
Mortal by Atul Gawande: Sixtytwo people attended an afterchurch discussion of the book led
by Judy Chamberlain and Bill Clark.
The RE Committee has been searching for a new Youth Advisor. The
Sabbatical Task Force has been
putting the finishing touches on
plans for my sabbatical, which begins
October 1.
Here's the thing: When everyone
pitches in at least a little bit, our congregation thrives. So I ask you to
think about some areas of church
life where we need a little bit of
muscle power. The Fundraising
Committee needs a few new members and, most especially, someone
to take the lead of the existing
group. The Annual Pledge Drive
Committee needs members to begin
making plans now so that the
pledge campaign rolls out smoothly
in early 2016. And, in fact, most of
our church committees are open to
folks who are willing to put in
some time and energy. Take a look
around and see where your skills
and interests might fit in with the
work of our congregation. Working
together, lending our wisdom, creativity, and industriousness to the
mix, we create a congregation that
thrives all year round.
I look forward to seeing you in
church!
Love, Sylvia
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September 2015
Parish Messenger
LAST CALL FOR CHALICE CIRCLE REGISTRATION!
Chalice Circles are small groups that meet monthly for
respectful listening and sharing on deep and meaningful
topics—a wonderful way to get to know others in a
deeper way than most social occasions allow. People
often tell me that once they’ve been in such a group,
when they come to church events they see people they
now know and feel connected with them.
respect and care what the other has said. When we speak
we don’t address our remarks to individuals but “speak
into the circle.” We may agree or disagree with the
speaker, but we speak from our own perspective and our
own experience rather than critique or argue a point of
view. We do not offer advice unless it is asked for. All
of this is counter-cultural too!
To quote Sylvia: “The groups help us to embrace our
Mission Statement. Each meeting has a spiritual component. The groups welcome all who are interested; at
the end of a year, the groups re-form to open the door
for more newcomers to join them. Group members
nurture one another during the year by creating an
environment where deep listening can occur. And
groups provide service to both church and wider community to help us engage in our commitment to work
for justice and to care for the earth:” each group performs two service projects, one for UUCB and one for
the greater community.
As you may be picking up here, Chalice Circles are not
“discussions” or times to share our knowledge, not even
a “conversation” in the usual way of conversation in our
culture. They are an opportunity for intentional, deep
sharing from our own perspectives and experiences, an
opportunity to hear others in a way we don’t usually get
to—and to be heard in a way we don’t usually get to be
heard! It can be transformative to be heard with genuine
respect and care.
If you feel you need more detailed information about
Chalice Circles in order to decide if one may be for
you, you may ask the church office for a copy of the
In Chalice Circles we covenant to listen in silence and UUCB Chalice Circle Handbook. All participants rewait until a speaker is done speaking to begin speaking ceive one but they are available in advance.
(some form of announcing our intention to speak is
used, perhaps a gesture or a “talking stick”). Silence, The 2015-16 Chalice Circle season begins with signwhen it occurs, is enriching and beneficial, allowing us to ups now until September 20. Circles will meet Octofully take in what the other says. This is very counter- ber through June. Chalice Circles are being offered at
cultural!
specific days and times when facilitators are available
to lead them. To participate in one for the coming
We covenant not to engage in cross-talk (direct response by one person to another), but to simply hold in year, please fill out the form below and return it to the
church office no later than Sunday, September 20.
Chalice Circles Signup Form
Name ______________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
Phone __________________________ Email ______________________________________
I want to join a Chalice Circle. I am available for gatherings at the following times when they are being offered.
(Circle all that apply.) I understand I need to make attendance a commitment so that my Chalice Circle can succeed.
______ Tuesday morning (9:30-11:30)
______ Wednesday afternoon (exact time to be deter mined)
______ Thursday afternoon (12:30-2:30) (You may br ing a br own bag lunch if you wish)
______ Friday morning (exact time TBD)
______ Sunday afternoon (exact time TBD)
Please return this form to the church office no later than Sunday, September 20.
Questions? Karen Foley, 725-1379, or Sylvia Stocker at the church office.
Parish Messenger
September 2015
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
HELP BUILD A NEW HOME
HABITAT RESTORE
On Saturday, September 12, UUCB volunteers will be
working on the second Habitat home, the Faith
Build. We now have seven volunteers, but could use
one more. We are looking for a strong male, but we
will take a strong female, as we might be doing siding
and sheet rocking. We work from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm,
taking a break for lunch. If you are interested in working, please contact Gretchen at 833-5125 or [email protected]. If you can’t work, you could provide
lunch for the workers.
The Habitat ReStore is looking for volunteer help at
the store. There is a notice on the bulletin board at
church, but they need help in the warehouse, a truck
driver, cashier, and in customer service. Call Michele
Again, thanks. Gretchen
SEPTEMBER’S CHARITY WITH SOUL
NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE
The Natural Resources Council of Maine is a nonprofit membership organization protecting, restoring, and
conserving Maine’s environment, now and for future generations. For more than 50 years, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has been protecting the places and way of life that make Maine so special. They
work to:
 Protect the health of Maine’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands

Reduce the amount and toxicity of waste to conserve natural
resources and stop toxic pollution

Set Maine on a path to a prosperous sustainable energy future,
without climate-changing pollution

Conserve Maine’s woods, wilderness, and wildlife.
NRCM harnesses the power of the law, science, and the voices of
more than 16,000 supporters statewide and beyond.
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MUUSAN
MUUSAN was represented at the 11th
Annual Peace Fair in Brunswick by
Lynn Ellis, Mary Ann Larson and
Trudy Ferland. This was the first
time MUUSAN took part in this fair
that takes place the first Saturday in
August each year. It was such fun to
have people stop by and learn about
what we've been doing over the past
year on issues of Climate Action,
Democracy in Action and Healthcare.
Mary Ann, a member of the MUUSAN steering committee wrote the following letter that was published
in the July 29th Portland Press Herald. This is just
one example of how MUUSAN advocates for issues
that are important to UU’s and will better the world.
Legislative action needed to tap solar energy’s potential
Thanks to Dr. Lisa Ryan of the Maine Medical Association and Dr. Daniel Oppenheim of Physicians for Social Responsibility for their July 11 op-ed, “Maine
Voices: Denial, delay by fossil fuel industry have
slowed action on climate change,” outlining the potential public health disaster resulting from our failure to
act now to limit the burning of fossil fuels.
comprehensive new approach. Support for renewables
will ultimately depend on a less hostile stance by utility
companies and a governor who’s not focused on the
fuels of the past century.
The authors mention “Death by Degrees,” a report from
the Maine Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility and an easy-to-digest summary of the adverse
health outcomes we can expect here in Maine if the
status quo prevails.
So Maine remains in last place among New England
states in solar installations, in spite of Maine’s enormous
potential to capitalize on this renewable resource.
In light of the aforementioned threats, it’s particularly
troubling that the Maine Legislature failed this year to
pass any legislation that would have spurred further
installation of solar energy on homes and businesses.
The session’s major solar policy bill was passed only as
a “resolve” that directs the Public Utilities Commission
to create a stakeholder process that could result in a
Thanks are due to the Portland legislative delegation,
though, for their support of the solar policy bill.
As a representative of the Maine Unitarian Universalist
State Advocacy Network, this is particularly troubling to
me. Our faith asks us to be good stewards of the earth’s
gifts, believing that the web of life connects us all.
Our past actions have already guaranteed a hotter future.
Unless we speak up and insist on something better for
ourselves, our children and future generations, we can
be assured of major havoc worldwide in the not-toodistant future.
The next MUUSAN meeting, focusing on Restoring Democracy, will be held on Sept 12 th at the Augusta UU Church.
Parish Messenger
September 2015
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WORKING FOR JUSTICE
THIRD SUNDAY FORUM STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
The Third Sunday Forum will be introduced on Sunday, September 19th.
Each third Sunday from September
through June, the public policy focus
group within Working for Justice will
organize a speaker and/or educate on
current legislative issues which may
include petition or letter signing. These
forums will be held in the May Sarton
room following the service.
On September 19th, Matthea Daughtry
of Brunswick, House District 49 and a
member of UUCB will speak to us on
current issues for the new legislative
year.
UU principles promote furthering justice, equity and compassion in human relations as well as ensuring the use of the democratic process.
WFJ is working in collaboration with these principles and the Maine UU
State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) to stay active with advocacy and
influencing legislation. In a denomination with a long history of social
activism, UUCB and MUUSAN seek
to amplify our individual and congregational efforts by joining together at
the state level and beyond to influence
policy development and to promote a
more just society.
We hope you will join this informative
gathering to learn more about what is
happening in our State capitol and in
our communities on the issues of climate, democracy in action, health care
and many others.
If you have questions or want to collaborate on an upcoming third Sunday
forum agenda, please contact Lynn
Ellis at [email protected] or 207479-5208.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES?
Consider participating in a 3 session Exploratory Circle series
Tuesdays, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 5-7pm
UU Church of Brunswick
Exploratory Circles were designed by the Restorative Justice Institute of Maine (RJIM) to bring people together to
explore restorative philosophy, values and practices as they relate to building and repairing relationships and
community. RJIM believes that when individuals within a community develop a thorough understanding of
restorative values and practices, the culture of that community begins to shift, making attempts at community
wide action more effective.
Exploratory Circles are not intended to promote the creation of a direct services action plan but do provide
valuable preparation for individuals who may wish to become directly involved in future training and service
roles that will become available through ongoing community organizing by RJIM.
Those who wish to join the October Exploratory Circles 3 session series to
deepen their understanding of restorative practices should register their
interest by contacting Cathey Cyrus through the UUCB church office
(729-8515) or Andree Appel through the St. Paul’s Church office
(725-5342). All Circle participants are asked to read Howard Zehr’s short
but very informative book, The Little Book of Restorative Justice, in
advance of the first session. Copies of Zehr’s book are available for $5.00
at the UUCB and St. Paul’s church offices.
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FUNDRAISING
UUCB CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: BILL STAINES
Saturday, September 26, 2015 @ 7:30pm
One of the best-known and beloved singer-songwriters
from the American folk music scene is making his
way to Brunswick. Bill Staines will perform a concert
fundraiser for the UU Church of Brunswick on Sat,
September 26, 2015 at 7:30pm.
Bill Staines has spent five decades on the road singing
his songs and entertaining audiences, starting with
the Boston folk scene in the early 1960s. With his
heartfelt songs, his warm, smooth baritone, his
prowess on guitar, his charm and his gentle humor,
he is one of the most popular singers on the folk music
circuit today.
Staines, whose music is described as “a slice of
Americana,” has appeared on Garrison Kieller’s
Prairie Home Companion, Public Radio’s Mountain
Stage and puts on nearly 200 shows a year around
the country. And in what has to be the ultimate tribute
for a songwriter, many of his songs have been recorded
by everybody from Peter, Paul and Mary and Nanci
Griffith to Glenn Yarbrough and the Irish folk duo,
Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy.
Staines has recorded 26 solo albums, including two
children’s recordings. More than 80 of his tunes have
been published in songbooks. Staines has also made
his mark yodeling. He won the National Yodeling
Championship in Kerrville, Texas, in 1975 and has
become a perennial instructor of yodeling workshops.
If that’s not enough, Bill is left-handed and plays a
right-handed guitar upside-down, with the bass
strings on the bottom!
Staines writes songs with instantly memorable singalong choruses. His now classic, melodically
charming, enviably clear, lyrical songs, like “The
Roseville Fair,” “A Place in the Choir” and “River,”
are graced with home-spun wisdom on life, love and
memories, and are decorated with beautiful, melodic
threads and flowing, pristine lyrics.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door .
Available at the church office (729-8515), at Gulf of
Maine Books, or ONLINE at
http://www.uucbstaines.brownpapertickets.com.
ALSO available after church from David Roundy or
at the Side Door Coffee house on Sept. 18th
Parish Messenger
September 2015
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FUNDRAISING EVENTS
APPRAISAL FAIR HAS A NEW DATE:
NOVEMBER 7 FROM 1-4 PM
In November, the Fundraising Committee will be
having an Appraisal Fair to raise money for the
church. Caroline Evans will be heading up this fun
event..
Freeman’s Auction House, based out of Philadelphia and the oldest auction houses in the country,
will be sending THREE expert appraisers to place a
value on your (and other local people’s) antiques,
fine art, decorative arts, or jewelry. Appraisals are
important for insurance purposes, or if need to know
the value for sales or bequeathing purposes.
The fair will be held at the Community Center at
Highland Green which has ample parking and
easy access with no steps. (Thank you to Charlie and
Carol Evans for sponsoring the event with Highland
Estates.)
Appraisal fairs are fun and informative events that are
always salted with unexpected surprises. If you have
watched “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS, you know how
fun the process can be. As a matter of fact, one of the
appraisers coming, Kelly Wright, is an “Antiques Roadshow” regular. Another appraiser, Virginia Salem, is an
expert on jewelry. The third is Sue Michaud’s nephew
who has been an appraiser for Freeman’s for many years.
Please contact Caroline at 607-0962 if you would
like to help with this event. We will need people for
logistics, setup/cleanup, lugging items in and out
of people’s cars, and refreshments.
How does it work? Local people bring their treasured
items for valuation by the appraisers who have agreed
to do this for us at no cost.. Funds are raised for the
church by requesting a donation for each item appraised
($10 each, or 3 items for $25). You can bring almost
anything that you want EXCEPT coins, stamps, guns,
or carpets.. Although it is easier to put a value on items
that can be seen in person, the appraisers are willing to
do the appraisal from photos if items are too bulky or
fragile. Reservations are preferred, but walk-ins are
welcome.
UPCOMING FUNDRAISING CONCERTS




Bill Staines—Sat, Sep 26
Jesse Feinberg—Sat, Oct 24
Ellis Paul—Sat, Mar 12
Maine Gay Men’s Chorus—Sun, May 15
REFRESHMETNS NEEDED
FOR BILL STAINES CONCERT
Refreshment Organizer—Recruits people to donate baked
goods/drinks, to setup refreshment table, and to cleanup the
kitchen area.
The Refreshment ORGANIZER gets 2 FREE
Concert Tickets (a $30 value)!!
Contact Sue Michaud (729-4857 or [email protected])
if you are interested in organizing the kitchen or simply donating
food or time in the kitchen.
Fundraising Committee: Caroline Evans,
Sue Michaud, David Roundy, and ????
EVENT ORGANIZERS NEEDED:

Committee Coordinator/Chair

Organizer of Craft Tables for the
Holiday Fair (Dec 6)

Live and Silent Auction Organizers
(Apr 30)

Plant Sale Organizer (May 7)
If you would like to help out, please contact
Mary Larsen, Board Chair
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August 2015
Parish Messenger
PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER STARTING TIMES
HELP SUPPORT JUD WITH HIS NEW CD
UUCB’s very own Jud Caswell is the featured artist at the Side Door this month, and he is going to use that event
as a CD release party. He is doing a "crowdsourcing" fundraiser this month that basically amounts to pre-selling
the album and offering some special bonuses (as well as letting people hear the album immediately!). There are
links to all of that on his website http://www.judcaswell.com or you can donate directly at:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jud-caswell-s-new-cd-watch-the-fall#
Parish Messenger
September 2015
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FREE CONCERTS
FIRST TUESDAY CONCERT SERIES
HUGH MAYNARD & NAN WHITE FEATURED AT SEPTEMBER 1 CONCERT
UUCB’s informal First Tuesday Concerts continue on Tuesday, September 1 at 12:15 pm in
the church Sanctuary. Come just to listen, or bring your brown bag lunch to enjoy during the
music.
Hugh Maynard and Nan White will pr esent
Oboe and flute music.
thir ty minutes of r estful, r elaxing
First Tuesday Concerts are presented free of charge, thanks
to the generosity
of UUCB musicians. They will continue through September with
an
additional concert scheduled for October 6. Mark your calendar now!
LARRY LEMMEL, PIANO
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
11:30 AM
Music by Bach, Beethoven, Bartok, and
Clara Schumann
Admission free
Please bring friends
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September 2015
Parish Messenger
ADULT EDUCATION
COMMUNITY READ A GREAT SUCCESS
UUCB's first community read and discussion, sponsored by the Adult Education Task Force,
focused on the book, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters at the End, by Dr. Atul Gawande.
A discussion led by Dr. Judy Chamberlain and Dr. Bill Clark took place after church on Sunday,
August 16 with 62 people in attendance.
Participants expressed a strong interest in follow-up activities on end of life issues, and the task
force is already developing some additional program possibilities. Thanks to everyone who attended
and provided feedback on their interests and needs!
YOU ARE INVITED
Homecoming Potluck
September 12
5:30pm
UUCB Sanctuary
This will be our first all-church dinner in our
new building. We hope you can all attend.
Stay tuned for more details.
YSAYE BARNWELL IS COMING!!
On Saturday, April 2nd, Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock will be bringing
her amazing all-day workshop Building a Vocal Community: Singing in the AfricanAmerican Tradition to our chur ch and community to r aise money for the
church. She will also be part of the worship service on Sunday. This is a repeat of the
very successful workshop that was done several years ago at our church.
Heidi and the Choir will be the organizers of this event. We will need lots of volunteers for the event since we will be serving lunch to the attendees.
START SPREADING THE NEWS...
Parish Messenger
September 2015
FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
I
hope you are all enjoying these waning days
of summer. Although things have been pretty
quiet in board activities, there are a few things
to mention.
First, the plantings on the south side of the building,
towards Maine Street, have been completed. As
some of you will recall, we received permission
from our neighbor to cut some trees down so the
building crew could move equipment in necessary
for the building process. We promised to replant and
jointly agreed to plant lilac bushes. Under the Building
and Grounds committee, Clara Ross drew up the
plans and selected the bushes. Maryli Tiemann has
been dutifully watering them in this dry summer to
give them a healthy start. I know she’d welcome
help with that task, so contact her if you are willing.
The second thing of note is the resignation of Steve
Donahue as trustee. Steve has been on the board for
several years, but growing health obligations for
both he and Gale have made it prudent to be freer
with his time. Steve has always offered a fresh approach to ideas during board meetings. He’s a man
who “thinks outside the box” and his creativity has
been a welcome addition to our discussions. His particular concern was that we more actively market our
wonderful church more effectively. It will be a challenge for all of us to continue his enthusiasm. A big
“thank you” is due to Steve for his time served.
Lastly, the board invites every one of you to our
Homecoming Potluck on Saturday, September 12.
This will be our first all-church dinner in our new
building and we’d like to make it a very special one!
Debbie Zorach and her extensive committee will be
providing details on the specifics, but the key ingredient to this dinner’s success is you and your family!
It will be a lot of fun, and a very fulfilling night to
have you all there. See you then!
Mary Larson, Chair
2ND ANNUAL PORTLAND GREENFEST
Monument Square, Portland
Saturday, September 12th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
NRCM is proud to co-sponsor the second annual Portland GreenFest on Saturday, September 12th in Portland’s
Monument Square! GreenFest is southern Maine’s premiere annual eco-fair featuring music, art, ecofashion, local food, kids’ activities, exhibits, workshops, films, and demonstrations. Learn how to green
up your home, school, and office, celebrate green initiatives happening in Portland and beyond, enjoy local
music and food, and learn how to get involved in Maine’s environmental movement. The event is free and
open to the public.
fmi: http://www.portlandgreenfest.org
13
14 September 2015
VEGAN SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 15
The Vegan Sunday group will resume its
monthly potluck after church on Sunday,
September 21, at 12 noon in Fellowship Hall.
All are welcome. Come share delicious
plant-based food and camaraderie with other vegans and those who want to explore a
vegan diet as a pathway to better health
for our bodies and our planet. Sorry, no
drop-ins, but if you are planning to come,
please RSVP to coordinator Andrea Sinclair
at [email protected] or 725-9307 by
Thursday, September 17, and let her know
what vegan dish you wish to bring.
Parish Messenger
WOMEN’S ALLIANCE
NUGGETS FOR BETTER HEALTH
The Women's Alliance will meet at the
Church on Tuesday, September 8, at
10:30 A.M. The presenter will be
Jean Rice, Health Kinesiologist,
Certified Brain Gym Consultant, and
Holistic Health Care Certified Practitioner. This program is an opportunity
to learn or be reminded of ways to be
healthy every day. Please be prepared
to participate in this discussion! Jean
practices out of Bath, Maine.
HOPE’S
GOING AWAY
PARTY
15 September 2015
Parish Messenger
S e p t e m b e r 2 015
Sun
Mon
SAN = Sanctuary
FEL = Fellowship Hall
WBR = Wendall Berry Rm
MSR = May Sarton Room
RE = All RE Space
6
10 Church Service
7
Tue
Wed
1
2
12:15 First Tuesday
Concert: SAN
(Hugh Maynard/Nan White)
13
14
10 Church Service
6 AllCare: MSR
Fri
Sat
3
4
5
12 Noon Deadline: 11:00 Fellowship
“This Week” email Gallery Committee:
MSR
7 Choir: SAN
5-6 Internal: WBR
Office Closed
6:30 Worship : MSR
8
9
10:30 Women’s Alliance: 3-5 Writers: MSR
SAN
6:30-8
4-6 Membership : MSR
RE Volunteer
5 Finance : WBR
Orientation
6:30 Stories : WBR
7:30 Pastoral Care: MSR
Office Closed
Thu
15
6:30-9 Board: MSR
10
12 Noon Deadline:
“This Week” email
7 Choir: SAN
5-8 pm Art Walk
20
21
7 Merry Meeting
Singers : SAN
11:30 3rd Sunday
Public Forum
(Matthea Daughtry)
7 Pagans : WBR
12:30 Vegan Lunch:
FEL
Office Closed
27
28
10 Church Service
7 Merry Meeting
Singers : SAN
10:15 RE Classes
11:30 Parent
Orientaion
11:30 Larry Lemmel
Piano Concert
22
6:30 Stories : WBR
29
Office Closed
18
19
17
7 Council: MSR
5 Parish Messenger
Deadline
7 Choir: SAN
Office Closed
23
24
25
3-5 Writers: MSR
12 Noon Deadline:
“This Week” email
7 Pagans : WBR
10 Church Service
10:15 RE Classes
Office Closed
12 Noon Deadline:
“This Week” email
Office Closed
30
Men’s Luncheon:
Off Site
12
7-2 RENTAL: Curtis
Memorial Library
5:30 Homecoming
Curtis Memorial
Library Setup in PM
Potluck: SAN
16
7 Merry Meeting
12 Nell Britton
Piano Concert: SAN
Singers : SAN
Office Closed
11
10:30 Buildings &
Grounds: MSR
Office Closed
7 Side Door
Coffeehouse/CD
Release Party
(Jud Caswell)
Office Closed
26
7:30 Bill Staines
Concert: SAN
7 Choir: SAN
Office Closed
Oct 1
2
3
12 Noon Deadline: 11:00 Fellowship
“This Week” email Gallery Committee:
MSR
7 Pagans : WBR
7 Choir: SAN
Office Closed
Office Closed
Office Closed
Reverand Stocker on Sabbatical
ANNOUNCEMENT SUBMISSIONS/DEADLINES
If you have items to be placed in the "This Week" email, Announcement Insert (The green sheet) or the Order of Worship, please submit it to Shirley, the office administrator, by Thursday at 12:00 pm.
If you want an announcement or article to appear in the monthly Parish Messenger, send it to the newsletter editor, Sue Michaud,
on or before the 3rd Friday of each month (usually). This deadline for the October Parish Messenger is Friday, September 18th.
([email protected])